With the calendar turned to 2018, it’s a good time to check out the introductory offers for online casino sites in New Jersey. Most introductory offers—bonuses attached to joining an online casino site for the first time—get refreshed at the beginning of the year.

However, sometimes there can be a big change, such as when Betfair.com announced it was upping its first deposit match to $2,500. That’s easily the largest deposit match for any casino site in the market.

Deposit matches mean that whatever you deposit (over a small minimum) will be matched with bonus funds. The percentage of the match can vary in different promotions, but for first-time depositors, it’s usually a 100 percent match.

Bonus funds aren’t exactly free money. To cash out bonus funds, you have to meet wagering requirements that vary from site to site. At Betfair, you have to bet 20 times the bonus before you can withdraw the funds, or money won from betting bonus funds.

OK, that sounds like a lot, but remember, it’s sort of the house’s money to begin with, so you can play a long time for free. If the money is lost, there’s no penalty on your cash deposits.

It’s also important to check the terms and conditions of any offer to see what the wagering requirement is. For example, PlaySugarHouse.com has a first deposit match only up to $100, but the wagering requirement is only one time. In other words, you get a $100 bonus, bet $100 and keep what you win.

Plus, some sites give you an introductory cash bonus—it’s yours, with no wagering requirement—of about $10 to $25 just for signing up.

Here’s a look at the introductory offers available at online casino sites:

• BetfairCasino: $10 cash bonus, first deposit match up to $2,500.
• TropicanaCasino and VirginCasino: These two sister sites take a different tack on first time bonuses. They’ll return losses on your first deposit up to $100. The return is in cash, with no wagering requirement.
• GoldenNuggetCasino.com: First deposit match up to $1,000. Wagering requirement 5x.
• PlaySugarHouse.com: First deposit match up to $100. Wagering requirement 1x. Plus a spin on the virtual wheel for an additional bonus up to $20.
• PalaCasino: Welcome package includes $15 cash bonus, plus spin on wheel for an additional bonus (minimum $5). First deposit match up to $500. Wagering requirement 10x.
• BorgataCasino: $20 bonus, 1x wagering requirement. First deposit match up to $600. Wagering requirement 10x.
• CaesarsCasino and HarrahsCasino – $10 cash bonus. First deposit match up to $300. Wagering requirement 5x.
• MoheganSunCasino.com and ResortsCasino.com: First deposit match up to $1,000. Wagering requirement 20x.

Be sure to check out iGamingPlayer’s Promotions page for the latest deposit matches, bonuses and more at online gambling sites.